Pharmacy treatments for Lyme disease cut N.S. emergency visits in half: study

HEALTH Pharmacy treatments for Lyme disease cut N.S. emergency visits in half: study By Sean Previl Global News Posted September 21, 2026 5:34 pm 3 min read RELATED: Tick-related diseases on the rise in Nova Scotia – Jul 27, 2026 LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE The number of Nova Scotians visiting the emergency department for treatment of tick bites dropped by about half after the province gave pharmacists permission in 2021 to assess and provide preventative Lyme disease treatment, a new study has found. The study, published Monday in the Canadian Pharmacies Journal, showed pharmacists are able to examine a suspected bite and if confirmed to be from a tick that can transmit Lyme disease, prescribe the standard oral treatment called doxycycline to limit the risk of it developing. Emily Black, lead supervising author of the study and acting director of the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University, said it’s a sign of improvements in the system. “It really shows that people want other options for access for things like tick bites. They really don’t want to be sitting in the emergency department,” she said. “But I also think it suggests or shows that they really value the care that pharmacists can provide and really trust their assessment and ability to do that.” STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT The study looked at patient cases of tick bites reported at three Nova Scotia emergency departments in the 16 months before and 16 months after the August 2021 change. Before implementation, there were a total of 617 visits for tick bites. Once pharmacists could assess the bites, the study found 402 people visited an emergency department during a period of 16 months after the change. When compared to the overall emergency department volume in each 16-month period, the study showed the rate of tick-bite visits was cut roughly in half. 2:09 New tick-borne illness on the rise in Canada Stick to the Facts Add Global News as a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our stories in your search results. By expanding tick treatments to pharmacies, the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia says people can get help faster. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY HEALTH NEWSLETTER GET STARTED BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS,…